carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

1

: the flesh of slain animals or humans

… a multitude of dogs came to feast on the carnage.

—T. B. Macaulay

2

: great and usually bloody slaughter or injury (as in battle)

the carnage of war

Synonyms of carnage

• massacre
• slaughter

Examples of carnage in a Sentence

Reporters described the highway accident as a scene of carnage.

the appalling carnage in that war-torn country requires that the outside world intervene

Recent Examples on the Web

The tiny and quick drones are being deployed in an increasing number of school districts – part of a growing school security industry as parents and schools find new ways to protect students and staff from carnage. — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

After a weekend of carnage, as well as some exciting racing, this small, picturesque seaside town in northeastern Germany, which not many around the world will have heard of, was put on the sailing map. — Andrew Rice, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026

In Oak Street, almost an entire neighborhood is killed off, largely off camera, but the film never shies from showing the resulting carnage littering the streets. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 17 Aug. 2026

Again and again, the camera, wielded by the director of photography Mike Gioulakis, glides past scenes of horror and carnage with an elegance that verges on indifference. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French, from Medieval Latin carnaticum tribute consisting of animals or meat, from Latin carn-, caro — see carnal

First Known Use

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

carnage

noun

car·​nage ˈkär-nij 

: great destruction of life (as in battle) : slaughter